Nectarine tree named ‘NECTATINTO’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of yellow nectarine tree, denominated ‘NECTATINTO’, has a large fruit of very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting, a semi-sweet yellow flesh of high eating quality and an attractive homogenous purple red skin color. The tree is of large size and is vigorous. Fruit can be consumed crunchy or at maturity.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Prunus persica L. Batsch var. nucipersica.

Variety denomination: ‘NECTATINTO’.

This application claims priority of Community plant variety right No. 2010/0481 filed on Mar. 2, 2010 (03/02/10) which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of yellow nectarine tree, Prunus persica L. Batsch var. nucipersica, which has been given the variety denomination ‘NECTATINTO’. This new tree produces fruit with a long shelf life without alteration both on the tree after growth completion and after harvesting, large fruit with very good eating quality, fresh fruit for fresh market in early September in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. Contrast is made to ‘NECTAPI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,156) yellow nectarine tree, standard variety, for reliable description. ‘NECTATINTO’ is a promising candidate for commercial success in that it has a medium period flowering, fruit with very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting, and so a very durable fruit.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

‘NECTATINTO’ nectarine tree originated in a cultivated area of the south of France, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, where it was tested. The male parent is ‘NECTALADY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,580), yellow nectarine tree with very regular and important productivity. The female parent ‘NECTAREINE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,480) is a yellow nectarine tree with very regular and important productivity. ‘NECTALADY’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,580) yellow nectarine tree resulting from an open pollinated cross of ‘MAILLARNECTA’ (BIG NECTARED®) yellow nectarine tree that was used as the seed parent. The pollen parent is unknown. It blooms in early March in the South of France, more precisely between the 5^(th) of March and the 20^(th) of March. The first fruit ripens in early September and more precisely between 1^(st) of September and 10^(th) of September. ‘NECTAREINE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,480) yellow nectarine tree resulting from a crossing between a female parent ‘ZAITABO’ (BIG TOP®) and a male parent ‘ANDRANO’ (RED DIAMOND®—U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165). It blooms in early March in the South of France, more particularly between the 3^(rd) and the 14^(th) of March. The first fruit of ‘NECTAREINE’ ripens in July, more particularly between the 22^(nd) and the 30^(th) of July. ‘NECTATINTO’ variety was obtained by hybridizing and propagated by grafting in Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. ‘NECTATINTO’ variety has been determined to have unique tree and fruit characteristics making it worthy for commercial fresh fruit production. There are no known effects of this standard rootstock on this scion cultivar. Asexually propagated plants remained true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree and the fruit were transmitted. The plant of the ‘NECTATINTO’ variety was reproduced asexually in Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. More particularly, the plant of the ‘NECTATINTO’ variety was reproduced by grafting.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety of yellow nectarine tree ‘NECTATINTO’ blooms in early March near Elne in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. More particularly, it blooms at the same time of ‘NECTAPI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,156). The blooming period is considered medium.

The first fruit of ‘NECTATINTO’ ripens in September, around 7 days after the first fruit of ‘NECTAPI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,156) variety. More particularly, it approximately ripens in the second fortnight of September.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying pictures, which are as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph which depicts the flower buds at different development stages, and the reverse and side view of the flower and the reproductive organs with petals removed, of the new variety.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph which shows three typical specimens of the fruit, one having been cut in half with the pit being left in one of the halves for depicting fruit flesh, pit cavity, stone, and leaves of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph that shows a close view of typical fruits and leaves of the new variety ‘NECTATINTO’ at ripening time.

Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actual botanical specimen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variations in soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potential for commercial production of fresh fruit by ‘NECTATINTO’ is high, due to fruit very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting.

Trees are vigorous and large stature half-standing in a semi-spread to semi-upright aspect. The flowering shoot is present excluding brushwood side away from sun. Flowering begins medium in springtime. The type of flower is showy, with medium to large petal size. Petals are pale pink to medium pink. Leaf glands are present and reniform. Time of maturity for consumption is considered late. The fruit flesh is orange yellow with a red pigmentation under the skin and into the stone cavity. Fruit skin is very thick, of purple red color on an orange red ground. The stone is clingstone, of medium to large size and the flesh is more or less adherent according to the fruit maturity. Fruit taste is semi-sweet.

Compared to ‘NECTAPI’ the flowering period is approximately the same, and considered as semi-early to semi-late. The maturity period is considered as late. ‘NECTATINTO’ follows ‘NECTAPI’ of approximately 7 days. The fruit is purple red on 75% to 90% of the fruit skin according to the sun exposure. The flavor is semi-sweet, very aromatic. The shelf life is very long.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of yellow nectarine tree, the following has been observed during the fourth fruiting season under the ecological conditions prevailing at the orchards located near the town of Elne, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. All observations have been made on rootstock cultivar. The rootstock was a ‘FRANC INRA MONTCLAR®’ tree. All major color code designations are by reference to The R.H.S. Colour Chart (Fourth Edition) provided by The Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Medium to high as compared to other common commercial             nectarine cultivars. The tree size the first year was             approximately 2.50 meters. The tree was pruned during each             following dormant season to a height of approximately 2.50             meters. Current seasons shoots growth could reach 0.80             meters. So the tree size from the second year (second and             next years) reached a final height of 3.30 meters including             current seasons shoots length.         -   Spread.—Approximately 1.0 meter. The whole orchard was             oriented to a central leader organization, with tree lines             spaced of 4.0 meters and trees spaced of 1.0 meter in a same             tree line.         -   Vigor.—Strongly vigorous. The present variety grew from             about 60.0 centimeters to 80.0 centimeters in height during             the first and following growing seasons. For second and             following seasons, the variety was pruned to an approximate             height of 2.50 meters.         -   Productivity.—Very regular. Fruit set is spaced by thinning             to develop the remaining fruit into the desired market sized             fruit. The number of the fruit set varies with the             prevailing climatic conditions and cultivar practices             employed during the bloom period, and is therefore not             distinctive of the present variety.         -   Bearer.—Considered medium. A thinning of 1 fruit out of 3             was necessary for the tree valorization. Thinning may not be             too important because of the high magnifying potential of             the fruit.         -   Form.—Semi-spread to semi-upright naturally according to the             angle of the branches.         -   Density.—Considered medium dense to dense.         -   Hardiness.—The present tree was grown and evaluated in             France. The variety appears to be hardy under typical             central Pyrénées-Orientales department climatic conditions.             Fruits remain very attractive because they are well colored             with an excellent semi-sweet flavor. Experimentations on             different sites with winter chilling requirement comprised             between 350 hours and 1200 hours showed a good behavior of             the tree in all cases. No damages were caused by ascertained             temperatures as low as −12° degrees Celsius. The tree was             also very resistant to frosty springtime weather. -   Trunk:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately between 8.0 centimeters and 9.5             centimeters when measured at a distance of approximately             30.0 centimeters above the soil, on trees from the fourth             growing season.         -   Bark texture.—Rough, with lenticels.         -   Lenticels.—Numerous lenticels are present on trees from the             fourth growing season. The number of lenticels reaches 2 to             3 per cm². The lenticels range in size from approximately             0.2 centimeters in height and about 0.3 to 0.5 centimeters             in width.         -   Lenticels color.—The outside surface of lenticels has a             silver-grey color (RHS GREY 201 C), whereas the inside             surface is brown (RHS GREYED ORANGE 166 C to 166 D).         -   Bark coloration.—The bark has a silver-grey color a little             more pronounced than lenticels outside color (RHS GREY 201 A             or RHS BLACK 200C). -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Mature branches and current season shoots are             considered medium to thick for the variety. Mature branches             show a length comprised between 70.0 and 100.0 centimeters.         -   Diameter.—Average as compared to other nectarine varieties.             The current season shoots have a diameter from 4.0 to 8.0             millimeters, and branches of trees from the fourth growing             season have a diameter comprised between 17.0 and 30.0             millimeters.         -   Current season shoots surface texture.—Average, wood that is             several years old has no furrowed appearance.         -   Crotch angles.—Primary branches are considered variable, but             the crotch angles are generally between 50 degrees and 60             degrees from the horizontal axis. This particular             characteristic is not considered distinctive of the variety,             however.         -   Internode length.—Generally 28.0 millimeters to 40.0             millimeters.         -   Color of mature branches.—Brown (RHS GREY BROWN 199 A to 199             B).         -   Color of current season shoots.—The color of new shoot tips             is considered a light yellow green (RHS GREEN 144 A to             144 C) on lower part of new shoot tips, whereas the upper             part is colored brown-purple to brown-red (RHS GREYED PURPLE             GROUP 187 A to 187 B or GREYED RED 182 A) following the             position on the shoot. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Considered medium to large for the species. Leaf             measurements have been taken from vigorous, upright,             current-season growth at approximately mid-shoot. The ratio             leaf length/leaf width is above 3.41.         -   Leaf length.—From 160.0 to 180.0 millimeters with leaf             petiole. Average length of 170.0 millimeters.         -   Leaf width.—From 45.0 to 55.0 millimeters. Average width of             48.9 millimeters.         -   Leaf base shape.—Concave relative to the leaf longitudinal             axis.         -   Leaf form.—Lanceolate.         -   Tip form.—Acuminate and small.         -   Leaf color.—Upper leaf surface. Dark green (RHS GREEN 137             A). Lower surface. A lighter green (RHS GREEN 137 B to             137 C) than the upper leaf surface color. Leaf texture.             Smooth and glabrous. Leaf venation. Pinnately veined.         -   Mid-vein.—Color. Light green with a yellow touch (RHS YELLOW             GREEN 150 D) and evolves with maturity. Leaf margins.             Slightly undulating. Form. Considered slightly dentate.             Uniformity. Leaves are isolated or grouped by 2 or 3. In             this last case, it is found one leaf of normal size with one             or two smaller leaves (size-reduction of 50% and more).         -   Leaf petioles.—Size. Considered medium. Length. About 7.0 to             12.0 millimeters. Diameter. About 1.5 millimeters. Color.             Light green on the upper surface (RHS GREEN 137 C to 137 D)             and light green (RHS YELLOW GREEN 150 B) on the lower             surface.         -   Leaf glands.—Size. Considered medium. Their length is about             1.0 millimeter. Their width is about 1.0 millimeter. Number.             Generally 2 to 4. Type. Reniform. Color. On young leaves,             leaf gland color is considered pale green (RHS YELLOW GREEN             144 A to 144 B). On older leaves, leaf gland color turns to             a dark brown (RHS GREY BROWN 199 A to 199 B). Margins.             Smooth and regular.         -   Leaf stipules.—Generally. No leaf stipules were observed at             the base of the petioles. But as seen in the characteristic             relative to the leaves uniformity, it is possible to find             leaves by groups of 2 or 3, with a normal-size leaf and             smaller ones. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower buds.—Generally. At pre-floral stage of development,             the floral buds are conic in form with a round tip. Their             form is evolving until blooming, with variable dimensions.             Just before blooming, floral buds are approximately 10.0             millimeters wide and approximately 18.0 millimeters long.             Color. This characteristic is dependent upon the proximity             to bloom. At pre-floral stage of development, the bottom of             the flowers buds, or calyx formed by sepals, is of             purple-brown color (RHS GREYED PURPLE 183 A to 183 D or             GREYED BROWN GROUP 199 A); the corolla formed by petals, is             generally of pale pink color (RHS RED PURPLE 65 B or 69 C).             Petals color shows an evolution until the end of blooming.             Hardiness. The buds are considered hardy under typical             central Pyrénées-Orientales department climatic conditions.             No winter injury was noted during the last several years of             evaluation in the central Pyrénées-Orientales department,             with winter temperatures as low as −10° C. in January. The             current variety has not been intentionally subjected to             drought or heat stress, but the variety showed a very good             resistance in orchard to temperatures up to 42° C. with an             average temperature between 28° C. and 30° C. during 3 weeks             in summer. Date of bloom. Generally early March. The first             bloom was observed on Mar. 8, 2006. Second to fifth blooms             took place respectively on Mar. 6, 2007, Feb. 24, 2008, Mar.             1, 2009 and Mar. 17, 2010. Blooming time. Considered             semi-early in relative comparison to other commercial             nectarine cultivars grown in the Pyrénées-Orientales             department, France. The date of full bloom is observed at             the middle of the blooming period. The date of bloom varies             slightly with climatic conditions and cultural practices.             Duration of bloom. Approximately 9 days. This characteristic             varies slightly with the prevailing climatic conditions.             Flower type. The variety is considered to have a showy type             flower. Flower size. Considered medium to large. Flower             diameter at full bloom is approximately 30.0 to 40.0             millimeters. Bloom quantity. Considered abundant,             approximately 40 flowers per meter. Flower bud frequency.             Generally 2 flower buds appear per node, occasionally 1.         -   Petal.—Size. Considered medium to large for the species.             Length. Generally about 19.0 millimeters. Width. Generally             about 18.0 millimeters. Petal form. Round. Petal count.             Nearly always 5. Petal texture. Smooth, sweet, glabrous.             Petal color. Both surfaces of the petal are colored with a             pale pink (RHS RED PURPLE 69 B to 69 C) when young to medium             pink (RHS RED PURPLE 65 B to 65 D) darkening with advancing             senescence. Fragrance. Soft.         -   Petal claw.—Form. The claw is considered to have a conic             form with a slightly rounded tip. Length. Approximately 6.0             to 8.0 millimeters. Width. Approximately 5.0 to 6.0             millimeters. Petal margins. Slightly wavy, sinuate.         -   Petal apex.—Generally. The petal apices are generally             complete at the tip and round.         -   Flower pedicel.—Length. Considered medium to long and having             an average length of approximately 3.0 to 5.0 millimeters.             Diameter. Average 2.0 millimeters. Color. Brown to light             brown (RHS GREY BROWN N199 B to N199 C).         -   Calyx.—Internal surface texture. Smooth and glabrous. Color.             The inner surface of the calyx is considered flat golden             orange (RHS GREYED RED 178 C to 178 D) color. The outer             surface is purple brown (RHS GREYED PURPLE 183 A to 183 D or             GREY BROWN 199 A).         -   Sepals.—Number. Generally 5. Surface texture. The outer             surface has a fine pubescent texture. Size. Medium. Ovoid             shape. Length. Approximately 5.0 to 6.0 millimeters. Width.             Approximately 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters. Color. Flat red (RHS             GREYED PURPLE 183 A to 183 D or GREY BROWN 199 A). Average             number of stamens per flower. Average 40 stamens per flower.         -   Anthers.—Length. Small. Color. Red to orange red color (RHS             GREYED RED GROUP 178 A). The color evolves with flowering.             Pollen production. Pollen is abundant, and has a yellow             color (RHS YELLOW ORANGE 17 B to 17 C). The present variety             is auto-fertile (self-pollinating).         -   Filaments.—Size. Variable in length, approximately 10.0 to             15.0 millimeters in length. Usually of the same size than             the stamens. Color. Considered pale pink (RHS RED PURPLE 62             C to 62 D or RED PURPLE 73 A to 73 B). The color is evolving             with flowering.         -   Pistil.—Number. Usually 1. Length. Approximately from 15.0             to 19.0 millimeters including the ovary. Color. Considered             very pale green (RHS YELLOW GREEN 150 D or RHS YELLOW GREEN             151 D). The color is evolving with flowering. Surface             texture. Glabrous. -   Fruits:     -   -   Maturity.—Very firm at maturity (shipping ripe).         -   Date of first picking.—Sep. 15, 2010, exceptionally late due             to climatic conditions in winter 2010.         -   Date of last picking.—Sep. 25, 2010, exceptionally late due             to climatic conditions in winter 2010. The date of harvest             varies slightly with the prevailing climatic conditions.         -   Size.—Generally. Considered large, with a homogeneous size             between them. Average cheek diameter. From 76.0 to 80.0             millimeters. Average axial diameter. From 72.0 millimeters             78.0 millimeters. Typical weight. Generally between 230.0             grams and 280.0 grams. This characteristic is highly             dependent upon the prevailing cultural practices, and             therefore is not particularly distinctive of the variety.         -   Fruit form.—Generally. Round to slightly oblong. The fruit             is generally uniform in symmetry, viewed from pistil end.             Fruit suture. Very shallow, extending from the base to the             apex. No apparent callousing or stitching exists along the             suture line.         -   Suture.—Color. This has generally a color similar to the             blush fruit color, a homogenous purple red (RHS GREYED             PURPLE 187 A to 187 B) on 75% to 90% of the fruit, on an             orange red ground (RHS ORANGE RED N34 A or ORANGE GROUP N25             A to N25 C).         -   Ventral surface.—Form. Smooth. Apex. Not prominent,             sometimes very slightly marked. Base. Semi-flared, shallow.             Stem cavity. Average depth of the stem cavity is about 12.0             to 14.0 millimeters. Average width is about 17.0 to 18.0             millimeters.         -   Fruit skin.—Thickness. Considered very thick and strong, and             tenacious to the flesh depending on stage of maturity.             Texture. Glabrous. Taste. Semi-sweet, sugared, aromatic.             Tendency to crack. None.         -   Color.—Blush color. This blush color is a homogenous purple             red (RHS GREYED PURPLE 187 A to 187 B). The red blush covers             75% to 90% of the fruit skin surface. The percentage of the             blush on the fruit skin surface can vary, and is generally             dependant upon the prevailing conditions under which the             fruit was grown. Ground color. The ground color appears             until 10% to 25% of the fruit skin surface, and is             considered orange red (RHS ORANGE RED N34 or ORANGE N25 A to             N25 C). Fruit stem. Medium in length, approximately 9.0             millimeters. Diameter. Approximately 5.0 millimeters. Color.             Pale green (RHS YELLOW GREEN 145 A to 145 B).         -   Flesh.—Ripens. Very homogenous, slow, very evenly. Texture.             Very firm, very dense, crunchy, luscious, and juicy at             harvesting maturity stage. Fibers. Not fibrous. Aroma.             Pronounced. Eating quality. Considered very good, sugared,             aromatic. Flavor. Considered semi-sweet. The Brix is             generally comprised between 12 to 14 degrees and acidity is             comprised between 6 and 9 meq/100 ml. The flavor is             considered juicy and aromatic. Juice. Very juicy at complete             maturity. Brix. Approximately 12.0 to 14.0 degrees. This             characteristic varies slightly with the number of fruit per             tree; prevailing cultural practices; and the surrounding             climatic conditions. Flesh color. Orange yellow flesh (RHS             YELLOW ORANGE 16 C) usually with a red pigmentation under             the fruit skin in the stone cavity and star-shaped around             the stone cavity (RHS RED 45 A to 45 B) on around 10.0             millimeters.         -   Stone.—Type. Clingstone, more or less adherent according to             the fruit maturity. Stone cavity. Medium, with an ovoid form             and dimensions corresponding to the stone's dimensions.             Size. Considered medium to large for the variety. The stone             size varies significantly depending upon the tree vigor,             crop load and prevailing growing conditions. Length. From             33.0 to 35.0 millimeters. Width. From 24.0 to 25.0             millimeters. Diameter. From 19.0 to 21.0 millimeters. Form.             Elliptic. Base. Straight.         -   Apex.—Shape. The stone apex is short and sharp.         -   Stone surface.—Surface texture. Usually the pit is             transversely furrowed on its entire surface. Furrows are             more pronounced toward the apex. The stone is pitted toward             the base. Relief is prominent generally and present basally.             Ridges. The surface texture is generally characterized by             more prominent ridges along the ventral edges and is more             prominent at the apical tip.         -   Ventral edge.—Width. Considered small to medium, and having             a dimension of approximately 2.0 millimeters at mid-suture.         -   Dorsal edge.—Shape. Grooved. Stone color. The color of the             dry stone is purple brown (RHS GREYED PURPLE 187 A to 187 B)             with some zones of light brown (RHS GREYED RED 182 A to 182             B). Tendency to split. Splitting is absent or very low,             depending on climatic conditions between blooming period and             stone hardening.         -   Kernel.—Size. Medium. Length. About 17.0 millimeters. Width.             About 12.0 millimeters. Thickness. About 4.0 millimeters.             Form. Considered oblate and elliptic. Pellicle. Pubescent.             Color. The kernel skin is orange brown (RHS GREYED ORANGE             165 A to 165 B). The almond, which is the seed of the             kernel, is cream-white (RHS WHITE 155 B). The kernel and its             embryo are mature at the time of fruit maturity.         -   Use.—The subject variety ‘NECTATINTO’ is considered to be a             yellow nectarine tree of the late season of maturity, and             which produces fruits that are considered large, firm, and             attractively colored. Fruits are excellent for uncooked             consumption, crunchy or at full maturity. Due to their flesh             quality, firmness and density, they can also be             commercialized as 4^(th) range product (packed fruit or             fruit in bags for example). And they are also useful for             both local and very long distance shipping.         -   Keeping quality.—Excellent. Fruit stayed a little more than             one week on tree before harvest and then, has stored well             more than 4 weeks after harvest at 2.0 degree Celsius. They             have a slow maturation and a long shelf life both on the             tree after growth completion and after harvesting without             alteration.         -   Shipping quality.—Considered very good. The fruit of the new             nectarine variety showed minimal bruising of the flesh or             skin damage after being subjected to normal harvesting and             packing procedures. Its resistance to handling during             harvest and packing and its long shelf life without             alteration after harvest easily permit 3 weeks-shipping at             2° degree Celsius.         -   Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular             susceptibilities were noted. The present variety is low             sensitive to powdery mildew, and low sensitive to             conservation diseases and decay due to its thick and strong             skin.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France, it should be understood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control and horticultural management are to be expected. 

1. A new and distinct variety of yellow nectarine tree as illustrated and described, characterized by a large fruit of very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting, and with a semi-sweet yellow flesh of high eating quality and an attractive purple red skin color. 